Get Your Fireplace Ready for Winter

Inspect Your Fireplace & Outside Chimney

Depending on the type of fireplace you have ― vented or ventless gas, wood-burning, or electric ― you’ll want to carefully inspect the components and clean, repair, or replace any items that may no longer be in good working order, such as a pilot light or the gas logs in your gas fireplace, decorative glass pieces or other interior elements in your electric fireplace, or the firebox, chimney, or masonry surrounding your wood-burning fireplace.

With a wood-burning fireplace, your chimney can become home to small animals or birds’ nests as well as buildup of creosote, which can shrink the exit and entrance of smoke or fresh air in and out of your home ― potentially causing combustible materials to get trapped and ignite.

Much of your chimney is likely located outside the home, which means you will need to climb to the top for an annual inspection and cleaning.

Among the tasks you’ll want to complete during a review:

• Inspect for cracks or other damage in or surrounding the chimney before the fireplace-using season. This may depend on the material your chimney is constructed from – brick, masonry wrapped with vinyl siding, cinder blocks, concrete, or stone.
• Check the chimney cap and fireplace damper for any wear or damage as well, plus ensure there is no debris blocking the free flow of air.
• Clean out the ashes or remnants of the previous fireplace use inside the firebox of your wood-burning fireplace. In fact, this is something you should do regularly if you use your fireplace often or if you use it at all. Dispose of the ashes by taking them outside to a safe place, away from your home, for safety reasons. Smoldering embers could reignite ― douse them with water before you remove them.

If you’d like our team to help you with your fireplace inspection, cleaning, or repair project, give us a call at (847) 741-5903 or send us an online request to call you back.

Wood Fireplace vs. Gas Fireplace Inspection and Equipment Check

Inside the home, you’ll want to inspect the firebox and flue of your wood-burning fireplace to check for any damage, cracks, or creosote buildup so you can clean, repair, or replace accordingly. Before you begin any inspection or cleaning, make sure there are no burning embers left inside your fireplace. If you have a wood-burning stove, you will want to also inspect the walls surrounding it to determine if a cleaning is needed. 

If you have a gas fireplace, make sure the gas is turned off before you begin your inspection and cleaning. Use the microfiber cloth for wiping away dust that accumulates on the logs, or fingerprints or grime that appear on the interior or exterior glass.

A professional may use a camera to thoroughly examine the inside of your chimney before conducting a chimney sweep. Call us at (847) 741-5903 if you have any questions or to schedule service on your fireplace.